Hand or power-operated actuating mechanism



Jan. r20, 1953 B. v. COLEMAN 2,625,839

HAND OR POWER-OPERATED ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 24, 195o74INVENTOR. l 56.4410 K Cahir/"0N /7 TTOR/VEXS Patented `lan. 20, 1953HAND 0R POWER-OPERATED ACTUATING MECHANISM -Beamon V. Coleman,Birmingham, Ala.

Application February 24, 1950, Serial No. 146,032

(Cl. 'i4- 625) 3 Claims.

My present invention relates to hospital beds and more particularly tohospital beds embodying an articulated head and foot section which, asis well known, are disposed to be raised out of the normal plane of themattress carrying frame of the bed, thus to support the patients head orlegs at a given desired angle.

An object of my invention is to provide simple, economical andpositively actuated means for raising the head and foot sections of thebed and which shall be in the form of mechanism readily attached to andremoved from an existing bed equipped with the usual manually operatedscrews and rods for raising the head and foot sections.

More specically, my invention contemplates a hospital bed of thecharacter designated in which there is associated with the linkmechanism forming a part of the actuating means for the head and footsections, a pair of fluid pressure cylinders or electric motors mountedpivotally on brackets which may be removably attached to a portion ofthe under frame of the bed and operatively connected to the raising andlowering mechanism of the bed, whereby the actuating mechanism may beattached in minimum y time and with minimum effort.

A further object of my invention is to provide power driven apparatusfor operating the head and foot sections of the bed and which may beassociated with the existing manually operated screw mechanism foraccomplishing the raising and lowering functions, and which wheninstalled on a bed permits the use of the power raising and loweringmechanism or the manually operated and existing crank mechanisms,selectively, thus assuring that the bed may be raised or lowered at alltimes.

Heretofore in the art to which my invention relates various forms ofapparatus for raising and lowering the pivoted or articulated head andfoot sections of hospital beds have been proposed. Insofar as I am awarenone of the apparatus and systems heretofore proposed have beenpractical or economical enough to permit the installation of the same onthe average hospital bed. My invention is characterized by the absenceof complicated parts, by its simplicity of operation and structure, andby the fact that it may be attached to a bed of standard design andwhich when so attached permits the bed to be operated either by thepre-existing manually operated means or by my improved hydraulic, air orelectrical mechanism.

Apparatus illustrating the features of my invention is shown in theaccompanying drawing forming a part of this application in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational View of a hospital bed, partly broken awayand in section and having my improved apparatus applied to the pivotedhead section and articulated foot section there- Fig. 2 is a view of thebed partly broken away and in section and taken generally along lineIl--II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view partly broken away and illustratingone of the manually operated raising and lowering mechanisms generallyemployed on hospital beds;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View taken generally along line IV-IV ofFig. 1 and drawn to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the control valves for use with the form of theinvention shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmental side elevational View showing a slightly modifiedform of my invention;

Fig. 7 is a View corresponding to Fig. 6 and showing a still furtherslightly modified form in which the power supply for raising andlowering the head and foot sections may be in the form of electricmotors;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the circuits and controlswitches for the modied apparatus shown in Fig. 7; and,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line IX-IX of Fig.7.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my inventionand more particularly to Figs. l to 4 inclusive, I show a hospital bedembodying a head section I and a foot section i l. The head and foot ofthe bed are connected in the manner understood by means of the siderails l2 through the medium of slotted brackets I3 and pins I4. The bedembodies a cross brace member I6 at the head section, a cross bracemember ilia at the foot section.

Secured in suitable manner to each of the rails i2 of the bed is astationary mid section of the upper or mattress frame indicated at Il.Pivotally mounted as at i8 to the fixed mid section Il is the headsection I9 of the mattress frame. The foot section comprises a sectionof the mattress framework indicated at 2| and pivoted to the centersection Il at 22. Pivoted to the section 2! at 23 is the foot sectionproper 213 carrying rollers 25 which roll on the upper surface of therails l2.

Pivoted at 2S to the side of one of the rails l2 is a crank armindicated generally by the numeral 2'! and having arms 28 and 29.Pivotally mounted at 3l to the outer end of the arm 29 3 is a link 32which may be adjustable as to length by means of screws 33 and slots 34.The opposite or upper end of the link 32 is pivoted at 36 to the headsection I9, which is at a point fowardly of the pivot point I8.

Similarly to the manner just desecribed, and preferably on the oppositerail i2, there is pivotally mounted a crank arm indicated generally bythe numeral 3l and having arms 58 and 35. The arm 39 carries at itsouter end a link ill, pivotally mounted at 52 to the end of the arm 39and at 53 to the section 2| of the mattress frame. The link may beadjustable as to length by means of screws 54 and slots 45.

Pivotally mounted in suitable brackets, usually at the foot of the bedare the manually operable mechanisms for raising and' lowering thesections of the mattress frame. In the manner runderstoodV these unitscomprise a tubular member :il pivoted at 48 to brackets |59 and 5|mounted in suitable manner beneath the rails 2. Telescopically mountedwithin the outer tube 41 is a push pull tube 52. Secured to the insideof the tube 52 isa nut 53. Threadably passing through the nut 53 is astem 54 carrying on its outer end a crank 55 having ahandle 51. It willbe seen that when the crank 55'is turned the tube 52 moves axially ofthe tube 51. Suitable anti-friction bearings indicated at 53 in Fig. 2may be provided if desired.

The structure so far described is, for the most part, substantiallystandard with respect to certain types of hospital beds now inexistence. While my invention is adapted for association with othertypes of hospital beds it is particularly adapted for use in associationwith that type embodying the axially movable tubes for lraising andlowering the head and foot sections.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2 I provide -a pair of hydrauliccylinders 59 and 5| which are connected respectively to raise the headand foot sections vby the means now to be described.

Each of the cylinders 59 and 6| preferably is an air cylinder embodyingpistons 62 and 53 and piston rods 54 and 66, respectively. Each of thecylinders is pivotally mounted as at 6l between the legs of a U-shapedclamp GS. The clamp 63 may have an upwardly extending portion 59 havinga laterally directed flange and is disposed .to straddle the cross framemember I6 of the bed. A set screw 12 serves to secure the bracket andhence the cylinders to the cross member l5 whereby the cylinders arepivotally mounted for movement in -a vertical plane.

As best shown in Fig. 4 .of the drawing I prefer.- ably provide anelongated slot 'i3 adjacent the outer ends of each of the push pulltubes 52. Around the tubes 52 I place sleeves M each of which has ascrew 1 5 threaded therein and passing slidably into the slot 13. Eachof the sleeves 14 has an upstandingbracket 'Il secured thereto.

The piston rods 544. and 6 6 are pivotally secured to the upper ends ofone of the brackets TI by means of a bolt 7 8. In like manner, the arms28 and 38 are pivotally connected by means of the bolts 'i8 to therespective piston rods 64 and 55. The arm 38 is biasedclockwise asviewed in Fig. l by means vof a spring le having one end anchored to thearm 38 and Aits opposite end anchored to a bracket 8| depending from thebed rails |2.

Adjustably mounted on the tubes 52 are collars 82 carrying therein setscrews 83. In the end of each of the rods 52 is a stop in Athe form of athrough bolt 84.

Mounted adjustably along the outer tube 4l of each of the manuallyactuated screw mechanisms is a collar 86 held in place by means of a setscrew 81. Loosely tting about the tubes 52 is another collar 88, and thecollars 88 and 85 are joined by a bar 89. Adjustably mounted on the tube52 between the collar 88 and the ends of the tubes 4l is a collar 9|which may be secured to the tube 52 by means of a set screw 92.

Air under pressure may be admitted from a source not shown through aiiexible hose 93 through a hand operated valve 95 to a bank of controlvalves indicated generally by the numeral 54, See Fig. 5. The bank ofValves may conveniently be mounted on the head of the head section I,and may embody valves of the push type indicated at 5B and 51 foradmitting air into hose 98 and 53 leading respectively to the cylinders59 and 5|. Discharge or exhaust Valves |0| and |02 may be respectivelyassociated with the hose 98 and 99, thus to exhaust air from thecylinders 55 and 5| through exhaust ports |l|a and |2a. At the time airis being discharged throughr the exhaust Valves ||l| and |52, the supplyof air from the hose 53 is cut off by closing the valve 95 or byproviding other suitable means for automatically cutting off the supplyof air from the hose 93 when the exhaust valveis opened. The hose 98 and95 are connected to the respective cylinders by means of a quickconnector coupling |50.

From the foregoing the method of construction and operation oftheembodiment of my invention just described may now be explained andunderstood. The cylinders 55 and 5| are pivotally secured to the bed bymeans of the clamps 58 and the screws 'i2 thereof. `The bolts 84 aretemporarily withdrawn and the sleeves 'Hl are slipped over the outerVends of ther tubes 52 with the screws 'I6 thereof engaged in the slotsof the tubes. The piston rods 55. and 55 are connected respectively tothe arms 2,8. and 38 and to the brackets Tl. The collars 85 and S8 areput in place, and the stop collars 82 and 5| are likewise secured to therespective parts as shown for the purpose later -to be mentioned. If itis desired to operate the bed by means of the cylinders, the head andfoot sectionsare raised merely by pressing the valves 5.5.and 9,1, andhaving raised the same they may be lowered by opening the valves lll.and |52. It will beV seen that the sleeves 'I4 slide on the rods 52 inaccordance with the setting of the collars ,82. Thus, if itis desiredvto limit the .upward travel of the head or foot sec.- tions, thecollars are Vset vcloser to the ends of the rods .52, or if it isdesired that the cylinders move the head and foot sections through themaximum allowable travel of the piston rods 5.4 and 56, the collars 82are moved out of the range of movement of the sleeves .14.

VWhen itis desired to operate the head and foot sections by means of thescrews and cranks 56 the hose 9.8 and are disconnected, or the valves 5|and |52 are held open. When the cranks are operated in one direction thetubes 52 move to the right as viewed in Fig. l bringing the stop 8 4against the left side o f the sleeves ifi, whereby further rightwardmovement of the vtubes raises the sections of the bed. The collars 8 5and 88 tosetherfwith the tie bar .83 therebetween and the set collar 9|are adapted to prevent the screws 54 from .being run .Completely `out.0f the nuts .5.3 in the tubes .5.2. The. ,Spring .i8 biases .the footsection toward lowered position for 'the reason that there isconsiderable friction vin this part of the usual bed.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings I may employ an electric motorI 03 having thereon a gear box |04 as the motive power in place of thecylinders 59 and 6I. In this instance the drive for the head or footsection may be in the form f a threaded rod |06 passing through a sleeve|01 pivotally secured to the arm 28 or 38 as the case may be. As shownin Fig. 9 the sleeve I0'I has threaded therethrough a screw I0'Ia havinga thread engaging end. By loosening the screw it will be appreciatedthat the sleeve |01 is readily slidable on the rod |05.

The control system for this modification of my invention may comprise abank of electric switches indicated at |08 and comprising a series ofindividual push button switches indicated at |09. Likewise, the motors|03 are reversible so that the selective closing of the switches |09 iseffective to complete the circuits clearly indicated in Fig. 8 of thedrawings at the will of the person lying on the bed. Power is suppliedthrough the lines I I I from any suitable source, not shown.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings I show a self -contained electric-hydraulicunit embodying an electric motor II2 having associated therewith anhydraulic pump H3. The pump II3 supplies fluid selectively to the endsof a fluid pressure -cylinder I I4 in response to the direction ofrotation of the motor II2. The motor |I2 may be under control of a bankof switches IIIBa, comprising the indi- Vidual switches, I09a, similarto those just described. The piston rod I I6 may be connected directlyto the arm 28 or 38 as the case may be.

In the modifications just described it is contemplated that the motors|03 or the motor driven hydraulic units and cylinders be pivotallymounted as indicated at II'I and IIB, respectively, o n the brackets 68,attachable to the cross member I6 or the like of the bed. The hydraulicsystem just described may be provided with the usual manually operatedbypass valve indicated at |20. When it is desired to operate the bedfrom the screws valve I is opened, permitting the hydraulic fluid toflow freely from either end of the cylinder back into the reservoir ofthe unit, rendering the same inoperable.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised an improvedactuating mechanism for use on hospital bed. My improved apparatus maybe easily attached to an existing hospital bed of the usual type, and assuch lends itself admirably to those cases wherein a relatively fewysuch devices may be kept in a hospital and applied to a bed whendesired. The provision of the f removable clamps 68 for pivotallymounting either the cylinders 59 or BI, the motors |03, or theelectrically driven fluid pump and cylinder unit shown in Fig. 6 affordsimple and reliable means for removably secu-ring such units to ahospital bed. Likewise, it will be apparent that with either form of myinvention applied to the push pull tubes 52 the use of the mechanicalsystem or the manually operated system already in existence may beemployed at Will. Also, the stop collars 82 provide means for accuratelylimiting the movement of the mechanically actuated mechanism, while thecollar 9| may be used to similarly limit the movement of the manuallyoperated mechanism.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various other changes and modifications without departing from thespirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitationsshall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a manually operable reciprocable memberoperatively connected to a crank arm for raising and lowering a pivotedmattress frame section of a hospital bed, of a power actuatedreciprocable member, a pivotal connection between the crank arm and saidpower actuated member, a member slidable on the manually operablereciprocable member, a pivotal connection between the slidable memberand said power actuated member, and means engaging the slidable memberwith the manually operable reciprocable member when said manuallyoperable reciprocable member moves in a direction to elevate the pivotedmattress frame section.

2. Apparatus as dei-ined in claim 1 in which there is provided stopmeans on the manually operable reciprocable member disposed to limitmovement of the power actuated member when it moves in a direction toelevate the pivoted mattress frame section.

3. The combination with a manually operable reciprocable memberoperatively connected to a crank arm for raising and lowering a pivotedmattress frame section of a hospital bed, of a. power drivenreciprocable member, a pivotal connection between said power drivenmember and the crank arm, a sleeve slidable on the manually operablereciprocable member and pivoted to said crank arm adjacent the point ofconnection therewith of the power driven member, a stop member on themanually operable reciprocable member engageable with said sleeve whenthe manually operable reciprocable member moves in a direction toelevate the pivoted mattress frame section, control mechanism forenergizing and de-energizing the power driven member, and means torender inoperable the power driven member.

BEAMON V. COLEMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,027,805 Bergamini Jan. 14, 19362,349,701 Buttikofer May 23, 1944 2,481,477 Peery Sept. 6, 19492,520,849 McVicker Aug. 29. 1950 2,560,465 McVicker et a1 July 10, 1951

